The Cambridge Dictionary, one of the most popular among English learners, has added over 6,000 new terms to its collection. This includes expressions that originated on the internet and became popular among Generation Z and Alpha, such as lewk, delulu, and inspo.

According to the Cambridge dictionary, delulu derives from delusional and describes a person who chooses to believe in something unreal. Lewk is a variation of look (as in an “outfit”), and is used to refer to striking and bold clothing or styles. Inspo, short for inspiration, is used when something seen on the internet sparks ideas or desires to replicate it.

Although they originated on the internet, these words have become part of everyday vocabulary and for this reason were included in the dictionary. “We only add terms with staying power. Internet culture is transforming the English language, and it’s fascinating to record this effect,” explains Colin McIntosh, dictionary manager.

In Portuguese Too

Just like English, the Portuguese language undergoes constant change, acquiring new words influenced by the internet and pop culture.

Some examples already incorporated into the official vocabulary are:

Logar: the act of connecting to a website, system, network, or digital platform. The term comes from the English log in, which means “to connect.”

Dorama: Asian series, mainly Japanese, Korean, and Chinese. The word originates from Japanese, which adapted the English word drama to “dorama.”

Home office: a model of working from home. Popularized during the COVID-19 pandemic, the term comes from English and literally means “home office.”

Glossary

Generation Alpha: those born between 2020 and 2025.

Generation Z: those born between 1995 and 2010.

Sources: B9, Cambridge, The Guardian, A Tribuna, Academia Brasileira de Letras, Terra, and G1.

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